As Tax-Free Weekend Begins, Iowa Families Are Still Paying the Price for Miller-Meeks and Nunn's Policies
Holiday can't offset higher prices on gas, groceries, health care, and back-to-school essentials
DES MOINES, Iowa — As Iowa families prepare to take advantage of this weekend's sales tax holiday, many are entering back-to-school shopping season facing some of the highest household costs in years.
While Iowa's tax-free weekend may save parents a few dollars on clothing, it does little to offset the rising costs of nearly everything else families need; from groceries and gas to school supplies, health care, and household essentials.
Those higher costs didn't happen by accident.
Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn have repeatedly voted for policies that are making life more expensive for Iowa families, including supporting costly tariffs that have driven up prices on consumer goods, backing Trump’s overseas war that has pushed gas prices higher, and allowing the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to expire at then end of 2025 after slashing Medicaid - forcing many families to pay even more for health care.
“You keep seeing our leaders tell us, ‘a little bit of pain, for a little bit of pleasure, basically,” said Nathan Sage, a veteran and former executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. “Like, we just got to deal with it. Well, it’s easy to do when you’re seated in power. But for people who are just trying to figure out how they’re going to pay their rent, how they’re going to pay for food on the table, how they’re going to buy school supplies, or how they’re just going to be able to live their life, extremely, it’s a major slap in the face.”
As Iowa families head into one of the most expensive shopping seasons of the year, they're paying more for nearly everything that matters; school supplies, groceries, gas, and health care. Instead of helping lower those costs, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn have repeatedly voted for policies that drive them higher.
"Miller-Meeks’ and Nunn’s votes are forcing parents to make impossible choices," said Mazie Stilwell, Executive Director of Progress Iowa. "Iowa families deserve leaders who understand that every extra dollar at the checkout line matters and who will fight to lower costs instead of making them worse."